RAILWAY LEGISLATION 165 



the same place, and upon like condition and similar circum- 

 stances; and all concessions of rates, drawbacks and contracts 

 for special rates shall be open to all persons, companies, or 

 corporations alike, under similar circumstances." Such guardedly 

 phrased restrictions, accompanied by no provisions for their 

 enforcement, were not expected to and did not interfere with 

 the operations of any railroad in the slightest degree. 1 



It might be expected from the intensity of the agitation for 

 railroad control in 1873 and 1874 that this law would have met 

 with a storm of protest from the agricultural population, but such 

 does not seem to have been the case. The fact was that the 

 Granger element had overshot the mark in 1874 by forcing 

 through a law which was not suited to the existing conditions. 

 The order of Patrons of Husbandry, moreover, which undoubt- 

 edly had been largely responsible for the movement in this 

 state, had already entered upon a rapid decline, and this was 

 accompanied by an equally rapid decline in the interest of the 

 people in the railroad problem. 2 



The question naturally arises: Did the Granger movement 

 for railroad regulation in Minnesota have any positive results 

 other than the establishment of the constitutional right of the 

 state to control railway charges ? The words of Governor 

 Davis in his last annual message, delivered January 7, 1876, 

 are an answer to this question. 



The agitation and discussion of the relative obligations of railroad com- 

 panies and rights of the people have resulted in a better understanding and 

 in sentiments of concession and conciliation in both parties to the contro- 

 versy. These sentiments found expression in the act approved March 8, 

 1875. I feel authorized to state, from the entire absence of complaint, 

 that the act has given satisfaction and that no further legislation will be 

 necessary so long as the present situation remains unchanged. 3 



1 The Industrial Age declared that the Minnesota Legislature virtually sold out 

 to the railroads and repealed all the legislation of 1874. See issue of March 27, 

 1875, P- 4- 



2 This is evidenced by the fact that the commissioner found it impossible to 

 dispose of two thousand copies of his report, and recommended in 1876 that the 

 edition be reduced to eight hundred. Railroad Commissioner, Reports, 1876, p. 613 

 (in Executive Documents). 



8 Executive Documents, 1875, * 7- See also Railroad Commissioner, Reports, 

 1875, P- 5- 



